When the Governor’s rule was imposed after the fall of Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP coalition government the assembly was suspended and restrictions were immediately imposed on the utilisation of constituency development fund much popularly called CDF. Surprisingly the new governor Satya Pal Malik has reduced the time bar on utilization of constituency development fund (CDF) imposed by his predecessor N N Vohra known for his deft handling of the financial and administrative matters during the short duration intervals of governor’s rule witnessed during last ten years. The MLAs irrespective of their party affiliations are desperate to avail the administrative and financial powers even during governor’s rule to keep their party workers and sympathizers engaged with the works executed in their respective constituencies. For their own conveniences the MLAs of almost all the mainstream political parties had persuaded the then Governor N N Vohra to allow the utilization of constituency development fund (CDF) for the works approved till June 19 this year the day when the assembly was suspended and they later persuaded him (Ex Governor Vohra) to allow the use of constituency development fund (CDF) for some more time.
A governor tending to act in a partisan manner with the intent of creating scope for giving advantages to a particular party in administrative and financial working of the government is highly objectionable and against the spirit of institutional and administrative neutrality.
Former Governor N N Vohra had agreed to allow use of constituency development fund (CDF) within a given time frame but the new governor Satya Pal Malik has lifted the bar on time frame for utilization of constituency development fund (CDF) by MLAs amid controversial media reports quoting Jammu & Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina as saying “BJP did not want N N Vohra to continue as governor of the state and new governor Satya Pal Malik is BJP’s own man”. Keeping in view the statement of J&K BJP Chief Ravinder Raina about the new governor Satya Pal Malik’s allegiance to BJP there is very little scope to dispute the fact that Governor Malik might has lifted the time bar on the utilization of constituency development fund (CDF) by MLAs the time when BJP is failing to cobble together a new combination for forming a new government without PDP in the state. Governor Malik has not only lifted the time bar on the utilization of constituency development fund (CDF) by MLAs in the state but he has also allowed MLAs to take part in the official meeting in total deviation of a decision taken by former governor N N Vohra on the participation of which MLAs were barred from attending any official function. A governor tending to act in a partisan manner with the intent of creating scope for giving advantages to a particular party in administrative and financial working of the government is highly objectionable and against the spirit of institutional and administrative neutrality. Better it would be for the governor to undo the actions giving MLAs undue advantages till the time popular government takes over the charge.
